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With adds of Goins and Jimenez, 40-man complete

With adds of Goins and Jimenez, 40-man complete

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A.J. Jimenez 96

By Gregor Chisholm
/
MLB.com |

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays put some finishing touches on their 40-man roster on Tuesday in advance of next month's Rule 5 Draft, purchasing the contracts of shortstop Ryan Goins and catcher A.J. Jimenez. That decision means neither player will be exposed during the Draft at the Winter Meetings in Nashville.

To make room for the additions, first baseman Mike McDade, utility man Mike McCoy and right-hander Cory Wade were designated for assignment. The Blue Jays are now at full capacity, with no vacancies on the 40-man roster.

Goins, 24, spent the past season playing for Double-A New Hampshire. A fourth-round selection in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, he hit .289 with seven homers and 61 RBIs in 136 games. He has the ability to play either middle infield position in addition to third base.

Jimenez, 23, appeared in just 27 games this season for Double-A New Hampshire because of an injured right elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of the 2013 campaign.

Jimenez is the club's 15th-best prospect, as ranked by MLB.com. In 2011 he hit .303 with four homers and 52 RBIs while garnering praise for his work behind the plate and ability to throw out baserunners.

McDade is the biggest surprise of the three players who were designated for assignment. The native of Las Vegas hit .275 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs for New Hampshire before receiving a late-season callup to Triple-A. He was blocked on Toronto's depth chart by Edwin Encarnacion, Adam Lind and Minor League first baseman David Cooper.

The versatile McCoy likely sees his time in Toronto come to an end after spending parts of three seasons with the big league club, appearing at every position except first base and catcher. The 31-year-old hit .193 over that span while compiling three homers and 20 RBIs.

Wade, claimed off waivers from the Yankees in October, is 11-6 with a 3.65 ERA and 137 strikeouts over four seasons at the big league level.